Hello everybody! We are starting a series of blogs called Back to the Basics. Parenting is complicated as it is, so our focus is to keep our tips and tricks as simple as can be. We are excited to get back to the basics of parenting and hope you are too! Today we are going to list simple things you can do to bond with your kids. Our culture sometimes exaggerates on how we should bond with our kids. No, we don’t always need to take them to an amusement park or to the movies to spend time with them. Don’t get us wrong, those are both awesome things to do with your kids but it doesn’t have to be the “only” way we can bond with our kids. Below is a list of simple things you can do with your kids!

Color/Paint a picture and display it on the fridge

Sing a new song

Do a puzzle and keep it out for everyone to see

Go on a walk

Bake cookies

Read a book….or five

Play dress-up

Match socks

Shovel snow/rake leaves/pick up sticks

Create using Play-Dough

One of our favorite sayings at before5 is “Kids need your presence not your presents.” It’s okay if you can’t spend hours each day playing with your kids. But when you are with them, be with them. These activities are so simple yet so powerful. We challenge you to do one thing on this list today with your kids! Happy Parenting!

January is a great time to reflect on your parenting skills and make new goals/changes for the upcoming year. Think about how your kids respond when you discipline and praise them. How can you motivate and encourage them? How can you connect with them and get to know them better? How often is your phone out while they are trying to play with you? Remember our kids want to feel like they are a priority in our life not a distraction or disruption. This would also be a great time to have a family meeting to go over boundaries and rules. Maybe your kids struggle in the afternoon to listen. So change up their schedule. Instead of free play, try a structured activity like arts and crafts or a game. Move nap/rest time earlier or later. Find a system that works for your family and stick to it. There are no perfect parents. We are all human. We make mistakes. Don’t look back and regret things you did or didn’t do for your kids. Use your “oopsy” moments to guide you forward on this parenting journey. We know you can do it!

Christmas time is a wonderful time to start new traditions with your family and friends. Some parents may feel overwhelmed by the busyness of the season and the high expectations of providing many new gifts to their kids. We are here to tell you that you don’t have to be overwhelmed and you don’t have to spend a ton of money on gifts for your kids. Keep Christmas simple this year. Focus on the opportunity to spend more quality time with your family and friends. There is a famous saying that we love…..Kids don’t want presents, they want your presence! Take that to heart this season and don’t get caught up in all the extra stuff. Kids cherish memories not gifts. So start planning some fun activities to do with your kids and make this season meaningful to your family. Below is a simple list of new traditions to start with your loved ones!

Read a Christmas book (or any book) to your kids every night

Do a Christmas puzzle together

Make Christmas cards for neighbors and friends then deliver them

Decorate Christmas cookies

Make snowflakes (paper and scissors) and hang them up around your house

Donate gently used clothes and toys to your local homeless shelter or Project Help

Create ornaments and hang them on your tree (or give them to someone else)

Make homemade gifts for family and friends

Drink hot cocoa and watch a Christmas movie together

Create Christmas sensory bins (check out your local Dollar Tree for supplies or use items from around your house)

We are so excited to keep it simple this season and spend more time with our loved ones and hope you are too! As you prepare for this season, remember to slow down and truly embrace the small moments with your kids. Happy memory making:)

Have you or your kids ever tried building something with marshmallows and toothpicks? This activity is the same thing except you build with apples not marshmallows. Supplies needed include apples, toothpicks, knife and a paper/plastic plate. The apples will be easier to build with if you cut them into smaller pieces. Give your kids a pile of apples and toothpicks and let them create their own masterpiece! After they have some time to experiment, you can challenge them to make certain objects. Challenges may include animals, houses, people, vehicles, buildings, boats, planes, etc… Try to step back and let your kids do all the building and creating. This activity helps your kids build their self-esteem, hand-eye coordination, and promotes a higher level of thinking.

Extra challenges:

Ask your kids to draw a picture of an object first. Then they can build it with apples and toothpicks.

Fall is a great time to collect “things” from outside and use them for learning activities. You can also turn this into a race to get your kids moving. Example: “Who can collect a red, orange, yellow, brown, and green leaf first?” Or you can turn your backyard into an obstacle course and while your kids are going through it, they can collect leaves for activities later. Leaves are a great resource to teach your littles about seasonal changes, colors, and fine motor skills (picking up the leaves with their pinchers). Below is a list of fun leaf activities to do with your kids!

Leaf sensory bin- this can include leaves, pine cones, kernels of corn, acorns and anything else you might find in the back yard!